Red Meat And Cancer
Red Meat And Cancer
Recent studies have shown that the link between cancer, in particular colon cancer, and consumption of red meat, is even stronger than previously believed. It seems that even moderate amount of red meat, if consumed more than twice a week, raises the risk of colon cancer.
Colon Cancer Is Linked To Red Meat Consumption
The link between some types of meat and certain forms of cancer is well known, but recent studies have shown that even moderate amount of red meat, if consumed daily, can heighten the risk of some types of cancer, particularly colon cancer. This pronouncement came from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a well-known and respected agency of the World Health Organization. The IARC used more than 800 studies that looked at the association of cancer with eating processed meat or red meat, to make this assessment. The studies looked at more than a dozen types of cancer in populations with diverse diets over the past 20 years.
Red Meat Is Probably Carcinogenic
In my years of medical practice, working with cancer patients as an oncologist, I’ve witnessed first hand how widespread colorectal cancer (CRC) is, as the third most common cancer in men and the second in women worldwide. During the past decade, much has been written on lifestyle — including diet — and the association with cancer risk. A number of studies have found varying associations between the consumption of red meat and cancer. The World Health Organization classifies processed meat as carcinogenic and red meat as probably carcinogenic.
Interestingly, chicken skin and eggs have been found to confer more risk than lean meats, although the strongest correlation was found with total caloric intake. Less is more, as they say.
The Less Of Meat, The Better
The link between some types of cancer and consumption of red and processed meat might seem proven beyond dispute, but there are still doubts within medical community.
For example, the link between heart disease and bad diet is proven beyond any doubt. Some red meats are high in saturated fat, which raises blood cholesterol. High levels of LDL cholesterol increase the risk of heart disease. When it comes to cancer, the answer is not so clear. Many researchers say it does raise the risk, especially for colorectal cancer.Up until recently, that is. A recent National Institutes of Health-AARP study of more than a half-million older Americans concluded that people who ate the most red meat and processed meat over a 10-year-period were likely to die sooner than those who ate smaller amounts.
Meat Industry Disputes Statistics
As expected, meat industry is disputing these statistics.The meat industry contends there is no link between red meat, processed meats, and cancer, and says that lean red meat fits into a heart-healthy diet. A meat industry spokeswoman criticized the design of the NIH-AARP study, saying that studies that rely on participants to recall what foods they eat cannot prove cause and effect. “Many of these suggestions could be nothing more than statistical noise,” says Janet Riley, a senior vice president of the American Meat Institute, a trade group.
What Is Processed Meat?
For all those that are wondering, what is processed meat, I would like to take a moment and explain. Processed meat refers to meat that has been transformed through salting, curing, fermentation, smoking, or other processes to enhance flavour or improve preservation. Most processed meats contain pork or beef, but processed meats may also contain other red meats, poultry, offal, or meat by-products such as blood. Processed meat includes hot dogs, ham, bacon, sausage, and some deli meats. It refers to meat that has been treated in some way to preserve or flavor it. Red meat includes beef, pork, lamb, and goat.
What Is The Reason That Red Meat Is Linked To Cancer?
There is no clear, one answer to this question, but there are several areas that researchers are studying into, including:
Saturated fat, which has been linked to cancers of the colon and breast as well as to heart disease
Carcinogens formed when meat is cooked
Heme iron, the type of iron found in meat, that may produce compounds that can damage cells, leading to cancer.
How To Reduce Potential Risk?
Finally, I would like to share some advice, on what to do to minimise exposure to these harmful compounds, and reduce the risk of cancer. Research has shown that what you eat can play a large role in your risk for developing colorectal cancer. For example, one recent study showed that a diet of mostly fruits, vegetables and a moderate amount of fish appears to offer the most protection against developing colorectal cancer.
The study showed a pesco-vegetarian diet — dominated by fruits and vegetables and including a moderate amount of fish — is associated with a 45 percent reduced risk for colorectal cancers compared to people whose diets include meat. A good example of a pesco-vegetarian diet is the Mediterranean diet. A healthy diet is good for your overall outcomes and your cardiovascular health.